Cone holding apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ila/I'm" fierigvezlf BY WM 1 'ATTORNEY L. BERKEPEIS CONE HOLDING APPARATUS IIIII I 45 May 22, 1956 Filed March 31, 1954 May 22, 1956 L. BERKEF'EIS CONE HOLDING APPARATUS Filed March 51, 1954 1 1 Al I I g 43 1 x,za

zz I E V /4 a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR la/Iwflerkgaelk ATTORNEY s ates Pat Ofi 2,746,629, an gamma swe e- Lukas Berkepeis, Arnhem, Netherlands, assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N.'C., a corporation of Delawar This invention relates to apparatus for holding cones of the type used in the winding of yarns, threads and cords and more particularly to cone holding apparatus of the quick release type.

Holders of the type to which this invention appertains are, generally used on a winding frame where simultaneo s W n of y p s f ya n akes pla U'sually 'a' single operator is assigned to attend to a relatively large number of spindles and the movements which he makes in replacing full cones with empty ones are important to the economics of production. At present, the devices available for replacing cones require either a fairly elaborate apparatus or awkward and time consuming operations by the attendants.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved cone holding device in which the engagement and release of the cone are very easily accomplished with safety and convenience to the operator.

In a more detailed sense, this invention provides a cone holding arrangement the release of which is effected by a plunger extending through the top of the cone.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a cone holding arrangement according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the spool gripping device which is shown as a part of the section constitut ing Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section of a modified type of cone holder according to the present invention as it appears in the cone engaging position; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the holder assembly in the release position.

In Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes a winding spindle having thereover a symmetrical body 2 which is fixed thereon by a set screw 3. The body 2 includes a frusto conical base portion 4 which is solid except for the central aperture through which the spindle 1 passes and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending clamps 5 defining spaces 6 therebetween. Each clamp 5 is provided with outwardly extending teeth for engaging the lower inner surface of a cone.

' Mounted for sliding movement on the spindle 1 there is a member 8 of annular cross section. The member 8 has a section 8a of uniform radius and a section 811 which is externally frusto conical. A coil spring 9 surrounds the stem 1 and bears against the top of the base portion 4 and against the bottom of the frusto conical part 8b of the spreader or cam member 8. Since member 8 is mounted to move axially, it is biased upwardly by the spring 9 and biases outwardly the clamps 5 into holding engagement with the tube 10 onto which yarn or thread is wound.

Near the upper end of the spindle 1 there is a centering box 11 externally in the form of the frustrum of a cone. The centering box 11 has a central aperture of Batented M x 22 5% 2 a size to make a slip fit on the spindle 1 and a cavity 11a for the reception of a coil spring 12 which extends in 'compression between a ring 13 fixed to the spindle 1'" and the top defining wall of thecavity in the metering box 11.

Above the centering box 11 there is a ring 14 which is fastened to the spindle 1'. This ring functions "to keep the centering bbx 11 from being pushed offthe top of the spindle 1 by action of the spring 12.

It will be noted that the spindle 1 is, hollow for much of its length, and that a shaft 15 is located" in the hollow interior of the spindle. "Shaft 1511218 near its lower end radial or transverse projecting pins 16 which pass out hr h a al lo ,7 I t e; s nd A he n end of the bar 15 there is a knob s t no ed tha th ine? 1 m r des iron! th t l of h u W n i s de ir d, *9 t mqy t c n l. ube 01 h? ae a 1 is dep esse his cause he tran ve s p n 6 o en e he u per ed e Q? he m mb i. tr th the sam d wnw dl Q tha he urfa e 8& 2 arg r cams cl m s. 5 mq n a ement with the'inner wall of the tube 10. At this stage the tube 10 is lifted off of the annular flange 19 of the body 2 by the action of spring 12 working through the centering box 11. It can now be lifted off of its support by simply raising it vertically. In raising the tube 10, the centering box 11 is freed but it will not be moved beyond the stop ring 14.

In putting a tube 10 in position on the holding assembly, the knob 18 is pushed downwardly and the tube 10 is slipped over the spindle until its base rests on the flange 19. At this stage the knob 18 is released and spring 9, acting through spreader member 8, moves the clamps 5 outwardly into engagement with the inner walls of the tube 10. The centering box 11 is automatically located in an axial sense by the tube 10.

In Figures 3 and 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown. Many of the parts are the same as those shown in Figures 1 and 2 and are given the same numbers. The spindle and release bar assembly, however, are different, and these difierences will be described in some detail.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, note that the tube 10 is the same as in the preceding figures as is the entire base part 2. In Figures 3 and 4, the spindle is designated by numeral 20. It is shorter than the spindle 1 and is not hollow for any part of its length. The plunger or release bar 21 is longer than the bar 15, is hollow for part of its length and provides, near its bottom, an enlarged frusto conical portion 22 which replaces the part 8 of Figure l. The plunger 21 is provided with a shoulder at 23 and this shoulder acts as the lower thrust surface for the spring 12 which positions the centering box 11. The ring 14 surrounds the plunger 21 near its upper end and this ring functions similarly to the like numbered ring of Figure 1.

In moving the arrangement of Figure 3 from the tube engaging position to the tube release position of Figure 4, the operator needs only to depress the plunger 21. This causes the frusto conical base portion 22 to release the clamps 5 so that the tube may be withdrawn. A port is provided at 24 in order that a gas lock will not prevent the free, relative telescoping movement of the plunger 21 and the spindle 20. To facilitate initial assembly of the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower peripheral edges of the part 22 and the mouth defined by the clamps 5 are smoothly grooved or beveled. The clamps 5 have space between them as shown in Figure 2.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supporting a hollow winding cone that comprises spindle means, a plurality of clamps circumferentially spaced about the spindle and movable to and from a position engageable with the lower inner surface of a cone, plunger means mounted in coaxial telescoping relation on said spindle means and means for moving said clamps into engaging position and resilient means acting through said moving means to bias said plunger means to an extended position with its upper end above the position of the upper end of a cone, said resilient means being responsive to depression of the plunger means to relieve the bias on said clamps whereby the cone may be removed.

2. Apparatus for supporting a hollow winding cone that comprises a winding cone, a spindle, a plurality of clamps circumferentially spaced about the spindle and movable to and from a position engageable with the lower inner surface of said cone, a plunger mounted in coaxial telescoping relation on said spindle, a spreader slidable on said spindle below said plunger and a spring acting through said spreader normally to bias said plunger to an extended position with its upper end above the position of the upper end of a cone and to bias said clamps into engaging position, depression of said plunger moving said spreader against the bias of said spring to release said clamps.

3. Apparatus for supporting a hollow winding cone that comprises a winding cone, a spindle, a plurality of clamps circumferentially spaced about the spindle and movable to and from a position engageable with the lower inner surface of said cone, a plunger mounted in coaxial telea centering box mounted on one of said means and a spring biasing said centering box into position for engaging the upper inner surface of a cone.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the spindle is hollow and a portion of the plunger projects from the hollow interior of the spindle to engage the spreader.

6. Apparatus .as claimed in claim 3 in which the plunger is hollow and fits over the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 667,849 Morse Feb. 12, 1901 1,306,256 Holt June 10, 1919 2,414,054 McDermott Jan. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 157,035 Germany Dec. 6, 1904 878,369 France Oct. 5, 1942 

